Sutton Views - April 2014 (57)

Edition 57 April 2014

SUTTON VIEWS The Voice of Sutton Valence School

Sports Round Up Hockey

Sport Relief

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For the first time in six years, Sutton Valence U13 Hockey side are the mini 7-a-side County Champions.

Despite being drawn in a tough group with Junior King's, Kent College B, Woolwich Polytechnic and St Lawrence College, and with four U12 players in the side, they came a very creditable second. Progressing to the semi-finals they met Kent College A in an eagerly fought match, which ended in a scoreless draw. Finally, after penalty flicks, Sutton Valence ran out 3 - 2 winners.

In the final they met Langley Park, a traditionally strong hockey school, but Sutton Valence drew 1-1. With great composure, the team pulled together and made a magnificent effort, winning on penalty flicks. The team (Louis Ridge, Oliver Laird, Lars Eastman, Finn Swaine, Sean McKeating, Max Savage, Harry O’Rawe, Zac McKeand and Archie Crouch) now go through to the regional finals.

Music

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Author’s Visit Page 14

This is definitely a team to watch for the future; they finished the season undefeated in all their 11-a-side fixtures!

Continued on page 2

Information A member of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation Registered Charity No. 309267 Founded in 1576 by William Lambe

Sutton Views April 2014

For information about Sutton Valence School or to request a prospectus, please contact:

• the Admissions Office at Sutton Valence on 01622 845206 or email enquiries@svs.org.uk • Sutton Valence Preparatory School on 01622 842117 or email enquiries@svprep.svs.org.uk

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Continued from front page Congratulations must also go to the U13B team, who put up a really good performance in the same competition and fought valiantly against all U13A teams. They had a mixed bag of results, but managed both a win and a draw against much stronger teams.

Hockey at the Prep School is also going from strength to strength. The U11 girls represented Kent at the Nationals in Bedford, finishing the competition as the seventh best hockey side in the south-east.

Earlier in the month, the Prep School hosted twelve primary schools at their annual hockey festival.

At the East Grindsted Hockey Club tournaments this year, sixteen of the best hockey-playing prep schools from London and the south east were represented. Both the U10 boys and the U10 girls won their respective events and the U11 boys were runners up.

Rugby We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Mark Howell as the School’s new Head of Rugby from the start of the summer term.

Having played rugby for Swansea Rugby Club at all age groups, Mr Howell was part of Wales’s schoolboy international squads at Under 16 and 18, before signing for Worcester Warriors in 2000; he spent three years there playing professionally whilst completing his degree at the University of Worcester. After university, he joined the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), becoming a Police Sergeant in the Riot Squad.

He captained the MPS 1st XV for several seasons and became a British Police Rugby International, taking part in many international tours throughout his rugby career.

Whilst playing for MPS 1st XV, Mr Howell turned his hand to coaching, leading them to the final of the Police Sport UK Cup for the first time in nearly two decades. Since moving to Kent three years ago, he has been a coach in the Saracens and Kent Development Player Programme, which identifies and nurtures

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Kent’s elite young rugby players. Mr Howell is also a Rugby Football Union Qualified Divisional Selector.

Previously Head of Rugby at Wallington County Grammar School in Surrey, where he raised the school’s overall win rate to 60%, Mr Howell is looking forward to joining us for the summer term. He will be actively involved in the preparation of pre-season training and will be taking time to get to know the squad.

We welcome Mr Howell, his wife and young son to our community.

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Going for Gold!

Katie Latter is going for gold, after being picked out as a possible contender for TEAM GB. Katie (Fifth Form) represents the county at U16 hockey and U17 cricket and shines at every sporting activity she tries her hand at – including running, football and javelin.

When she was applying for a sports scholarship, she was asked to bowl a ball in the cricket nets – something she had never done before; she took a wicket! Today, as well as the Kent U17 team, she plays for Leeds and Broomfield Cricket Club, where her batting average last season was 108.

Katie’s all-round go-getter attitude has now won her a place in the in the lotteryfunded Girls4Gold programme, designed to select young women with motivation and determination to succeed. The sporting teenager has been chosen as one of 464 women who could be trained to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio – not in any of her regular sports, but in canoeing!

However, if she fails to make the grade in a rigorous selection process, which will see the 464 contenders finally whittled down to 10, there is still a chance she could be offered a place on a training programme for one of many other sports. All whilst studying for 10 GCSEs in Chemistry, Maths, Geography, Biology, Spanish, Physics, RE, English, Design Technology and Sport and PE.

physiological tests, measuring strength, speed and aerobic fitness, in front of assessors who included sports scientists and coaches.

Mrs Karen Latter said, “It was a massive achievement to be asked to attend the assessment and to be selected from thousands of applicants. Katie was so excited to be able to spend the day at the Olympic Park being put through her paces, as well as having the chance to meet some 2012 Olympic athletes.”

Katie will now take part in a first-phase assessment for GB canoeing and, if she sails through, will then face the next phase; judged against 120 other young hopefuls. She said, “This is a huge opportunity for me and I am tremendously excited. Even if I am not selected for canoe training, it opens the doors to opportunities in a whole host of other disciplines.”

Girls4Gold was launched in 2008 and thanks to the lottery funding, Team GB should have a shining future in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. And Katie plans to be right up there with them on the podium!

Katie was invited to attend the Girls4Gold assessment at the Olympic Park after seeing it advertised on the England hockey website.

The first hurdle was taking part in a series of

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Sam Vaults to Success The Mostowfi family relocated to Maidstone last year so their son could follow his dream. Jane and Ramin Mostowfi left their life in Brighton a year ago so that Sam, First Form, could further his gymnastic career.

Now, the determined youngster, who trains for 28 hours a week, has made it into the national squad for his age group.

Sam began gymnastics at the age of four, after seeing a group of children emerging from a local hall and asking his mum what was going on. When she explained, he said that he wanted to do that and has been hooked ever since.

Mrs Mostowfi said, “School has been very accommodating. Sam is dyslexic, so doesn’t have to do Spanish and, although he swims, he doesn’t do Wednesday afternoon Games lessons. School work and training take up all his free time, but it’s worth the commitment and travelling to events all over the UK. Sam is now very disciplined and diligent. His success has given him a confidence, which certainly translates into his School work.”

Now, as Sam climbs the ladder to success, it is dad Ramin who can be found commuting – back to Brighton to run the family restaurant!

Mrs Mostowfi said, “It’s a real commitment, not just for Sam, but the whole family. We can’t go on holiday for more than a week, as life revolves around Sam’s training.

We even sold up and moved to Sutton Valence so that Sam was closer to the gym.

When he started doing gymnastics, he went to a local gym in Brighton, about a mile away from where we lived, two or three nights a week. By 2012, he was training six days a week – half in Brighton and half in Maidstone!”

Sam’s coach in Brighton advised the family that Sam needed to join a bigger and better club which could encourage his talents.

Consequently, he joined Pegasus Gymnastics Club, Maidstone, which has a national reputation for turning out top gymnasts. Sam then spent one term at the Prep School, where teachers encouraged his training, before moving up to the Senior School last September.

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Jo-Jo’s England debut After only 18 months in the game, Jo-Jo Williams was invited in October 2013 to join the monthly England Roller Hockey training sessions, in Peterborough.

Jo-Jo, who is 10 and in Year 5 at the Prep School, normally trains at the YMCA Leisure Centre with Maidstone Roller Hockey Club, which has a rich history, winning three National Cup titles and producing some of the country's best-ever players.

Progressing quickly with England Roller Hockey, he was asked to join their tour to Portugal during February half-term, as one of the two goalkeepers for the Under 13 team.

Portugal has been the dominant power in the sport with the home team attracting the second most passionate following in the country, after the national football team.

Predictably, the regime on tour was hard with early morning training sessions, coaching after lunch and travelling to matches in the evenings.

“The games were tough”, said Mrs Williams, “but I’m pleased to say that Jo-Jo played well, making almost 100 saves over five matches!”

Despite the tough opposition, the team won all but one of their matches. The England Coach was impressed with Jo-Jo’s ability, saying that he had played well beyond his years and had the potential to go a long way in the sport.

Prep School Head of Sport April 2014

Following Mr Fuller’s move to Head of Maths at another prep school, we are delighted that Mr Tom Davey, who has made such a difference to Boys’ Games this year, will be taking over as head of the department from September.

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Prep School shoot hoops for Sport Relief Children and teachers at the Prep School gave up their sleep to help raise funds for Sport Relief.

Starting at 9am on Friday March 21, the whole School – from Nursery upwards – joined in a 24hour basketball ‘Playathon’, which continued all day and all night until 9am the following morning.

The monster basketball challenge continued throughout the day in the Bates Hall, with parents taking part from 6 – 9pm, then children in Year 6 and teachers taking on the overnight shift.

The marathon effort culminated in a celebratory breakfast served in the School dining hall on the Saturday morning.

Through many charitable projects, the children are encouraged to have an awareness of those who are less fortunate than themselves, so they enthusiastically set about gathering sponsorship for the event. By the end of term, they had raised almost £7,000, with more coming in every day. Combined with over

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£2,000 raised by Mrs Barr (Head of English) for Readathon as part of Literacy Week, this was a record term for raising money for charity!

Head, Malcolm Gough said, “The School is very supportive of charitable work and Sport Relief is such a high-profile event, we could not let it pass without getting involved. The children had a terrific time, learnt about tenacity and team work and raised a magnificent sum for the cause.

Well done to them all!”

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Sixth Form Biology Towards the end of term, A2 Biology students were privileged to take part in a DNA master class run by Discovering DNA Ltd. The full day of activities and experiments allowed our students to cover aspects of the Genomes and Gene Technologies section of their A level course in a very practical and interesting way. They had the opportunity to learn more about PCR (polymerise chain reaction) as well as to experience gene sequencing and electrophoresis techniques.

Not all of these techniques are normally possible in schools, but they are becoming standard tools for modern biologists - even for those like forensic scientists who are not specifically working in the area of genetics.

Sixth Formers had the task of identifying whether samples of DNA from beef burgers

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matched cow DNA (or whether the meat had come from other sources!). There was an investigation of the inheritance patterns for cystic fibrosis, along with a look at the molecular nature of this disease. They also learnt how scientists in this country are leading the way in developing a cure for cystic fibrosis through gene therapy and discussed the ethics of screening people for diseases using molecular techniques.

The day ended with a quiz which was won

by Liz Copping and Ruhan du Toit. All the students were winners though, in terms of their enjoyment of the day and also with respect to their learning!

Mr David Kennedy Head of Biology

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Head of School, Matthew Parsons Good morning Sutton Valence.

As all of you will know, a week or so before the end of the Michaelmas term Nelson Mandela died. There are many who will say that it is a shame he has gone. There may even be those who say, “You know what? 95 is not a bad innings.” But to me personally it was a big deal and made me look more into his life and everything he had achieved.

Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement were big things in the Parsons’ household and are very relevant to each and every one of us sitting under this roof today. I took such an interest in this because of one person: my Great Uncle Joseph.

Now he is a man who had a beautiful wife, a delightful house, three cars and no children; everything a man could wish for!

He had a very comfortable way of life, much like many of us here at Sutton Valence. His work allowed him to travel, something at the time very few people did. He worked in Stockholm and Amsterdam before moving to South Africa, where he witnessed the apartheid regime.

He was not allowed to socialise with anyone black. He had to be careful whom he gave lifts to and even to whom he spoke.

Joe came back to the UK, quit his job before walking into the main office of the charity Oxfam and asked for a job in South Africa.

He was subsequently made the Field Director of South Africa and Lesotho. Oxfam asked him to go back to Africa for just two weeks to find projects the charity could fund.

He stayed five years…

The majority of these projects were

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building wells and helping farmers learn new skills, but on one occasion a woman came to him in great need of a vehicle.

He listened to her story and understood.

He did indeed find her a vehicle from Oxfam and when they parted ways she gave him a kiss on each cheek. That woman was Winnie Mandela…

He met others involved with the antiapartheid movement, including Desmond Tutu and Steve Biko. He gave up everything to help those less fortunate than himself.

Eventually Oxfam was banned by the government and when he returned to England at the age of 50 he had no job, no money and no pension. Joe, now 78, has Alzheimer’s and remembers little about anything, he can’t even remember my face anymore. But his legacy is that life is not about money and that all of us have the ability to help others.

Nelson Mandela strove for equality, for helping others and for freedom. He showed courage, compassion and perseverance. His legacy shows us how we can move forward with our own lives and show these skills.

In addition to this, it shows us the ability to change ourselves. Nelson Mandela was the first to admit that he was no angel. He was sent to prison at a time when he preached violent opposition. But he changed and then advocated forgiveness, peace and reconciliation. It is never too late to do this.

Trust me on that, I speak from experience

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when I say I haven’t always done the right thing. But each and every one of us, teachers and students alike, can change for the better. Or as Ghandi put it, “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Too often we do not try because we believe it to be impossible, but in the words of Mandela himself, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Mandela’s attributes also include bravery and loyalty. They both are relevant to Sutton Valence. The loyalty we show for each other and our School; and the bravery to stand up for what is right. We should be proud to be here. Understand how lucky we are, because each and every one of us can do something incredible with our life.

So do not waste the skills you have. You all can achieve your potential.

We should use our education to become better people. And that starts in our School and by the loyalty we show to our peers.

However, never forget loyalty to yourself: if you want something, as long as it’s a good thing of course, or want to change something, then you try. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Try hard; be the best you can possibly be. Learn from your mistakes and be able to laugh at yourself. Most importantly, be a good person. Be a person who others want to be around. Be a person who would help anyone for the sake of helping someone. Be someone from Sutton Valence and be proud of it.

Now I’ve talked about what good people should be, but I’d like to finish with a quote

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from Marcus Aurelias: “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be: be one.” So, get out there Sutton Valence. I challenge each and every one of you, teachers and students, to do something amazing with your life, because every person here today is more than capable of doing just that.

Have a great term, make it one to remember! Thank you for listening.

On reading this speech, our Governor, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster invited Matthew and a friend to attend the memorial service to celebrate the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela at Westminster Abbey in London.

Attended by nearly 2,000 people including Prince Harry, David Cameron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South Africa's deputy president, Matthew and Ruhan du Toit joined the congregation. Family business commitments brought the du Toit family to England in 2001 and Ruhan and his brother, Esias, to the Prep School when they were five and eight respectively; both then went on to the Senior School. Esias has returned to South Africa to study Accountancy at Stellenbosch University and the family regularly goes back to the family farm where they breed scarce and endangered antelope and parrot species.

“The service was both exciting and very moving”, said Matthew. “It was amazing to be part of such an internationally significant occasion; both Ruhan and I felt very honoured to be there and not a little emotional at times.”

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Music Pupils pull strings Senior School string instrumentalists have been treated to a violin master class by one of the world’s great masters.

Professor Nicholas Miller, a professor of the violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London, is recognised as one of the world’s top violin teachers. He gave music scholars some expert tuition after they performed before him in the Groves Hall.

The master class started off with the four youngest violinists, all aged 11-12, performing their Grade Four pieces. The senior pupils then performed a variety of music from Grade Six to Diploma level.

Performers were Anya Livtchak and Laura Horley, Third Form, Jessica Grindlay, Fourth Form, John Wong and Thomas Brunt, Fifth Form and Ioana Papuza and Daisy Andrews, from the Sixth Form.

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Gabriel Lordon and Cello

particularly strong string section, led by Mr David Holmes, a former student of Professor Miller’s at the Royal Academy.

Only this month, Prep School pupil Gabriel Lordon learned he had been awarded the Marguerite Swan Memorial prize for Violoncello.

Senior School Director of Music, Mr Phil Horley said, “We were honoured to be able to welcome such a high profile and talented musician to Sutton Valence. The encouragement and advice he gave to our scholars was invaluable in improving their musical technique and ambition. I am delighted to say that Professor Miller was so impressed with the standard at the School that he is looking forward to returning next year.”

This annual award is given by the Associated Board for the Royal Schools of Music to the candidate obtaining the highest mark in a ‘cello exam (grades one to five) in the area covering Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

All students are encouraged to participate in music in some form. The School has many musical groups and ensemble, but has a

Gabriel, who is in Year 5, has been learning the ‘cello for three years and recently gained his Grade Three with Distinction.

It is the fifth time that a pupil from the Preparatory School has been awarded the prize, under the expert tutelage of Mrs Marian Dutton.

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Professor Nicholas Miller with Ioana Papuza

VOCES8 Educate Prep School singers were treated this term to an inspirational choral workshop led by one of the world’s most exciting vocal groups – VOCES8.

The international award-winners, still in their 20s and 30s, comprise former choristers from Westminster Abbey, as well as graduates from the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal College of Music. Now well established at the forefront of British a capella singing, the musical octet is one of the most versatile vocal groups in the world today.

The group’s visit to the School followed a hugely popular concert for members of the Sutton Valence Music Society, which had taken place at the Senior School the previous month.

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Members of VOCES8 chatted to the children about how they started out as choristers and the various routes they had taken to reach the top.

Twenty children from the Prep School then joined Sixth Formers for an afternoon of vocal warm-ups, body percussion, beatboxing, melody and harmony singing, culminating in a performance of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

Prep School Head of Music, Mrs Heaton said, “This was a fantastic opportunity for our children to learn from young people who have made a successful and enjoyable career out of their musical abilities.

The children worked extremely hard and found the afternoon hugely enjoyable and great fun.”

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Primary Singing Day Five local primary schools joined the Prep School’s Junior Choir for an afternoon of singing recently.

The children spent the afternoon learning and rehearsing five contrasting songs. Each school also sang an individual item, to add to the variety of the programme.

The afternoon was a very special experience

for all those involved. Thanks to the expertise of Head of Music, Mrs Wendy Heaton, she soon had the massed choirs' voices blending well.

"The children were all enthusiastic, with a clear sense of purpose", she said. "There was a true sense of camaraderie between them, which made for a very successful afternoon."

The children rounded off their afternoon with a short performance for their parents.

Design for Living

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Two Old Suttonians, studying interior design in London, have picked up a prestigious design award.

a site in Bayswater, in the Collective Design Award, run by London residential property developers, The Collective Ltd.

Emily Coyle (Holdgate ’10) and Alice Simmons (Groves ’11) are in their final year of studying BA Interior Architecture at the University of Westminster. They were given a one-week project to come up with an innovative solution for a ‘live/work space’ at

The brief was to design a 'room of transient dreams' - one of the main aims being to promote conversation and explore the possibilities and challenges of small spaces.

The girls’ design was based around an inventive sliding partition, which acts both as

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a modern kitchen on one side and a practical office space on the other.

and as Emily said, it should be a great boost to their CVs!

Emily and Alice teamed up with fellow student Ada Asillani in the competition, which saw two categories – one for graduates and the other for undergraduates.

Not only did they walk off with first prize in their category, but also the overall prize, with a trophy and cash prize of £2,500!

Bruce Grindlay, Headmaster, was delighted for the girls, “Emily produced some excellent artwork whilst at the School and both showed huge promise and creativity in Design Technology. I congratulate them both and am thrilled that two Old Suttonians have won such a significant award.”

The girls had to submit a 500 word design statement as well as floor plans and drawings for the studio, with mood boards and 3D perspectives.

Lee Polisano, Partner at London architectural firm PLP, who was one of five judges on the panel, said, "The winning entry demonstrated a truly imaginative approach, with originality and innovation that allows a modular use of living space. The complex design, created from such a simple yet intelligent idea, was presented to a very high standard."

“It was a lot of work in a short space of time”, said Alice, “but we were very happy with the result. It was an added bonus to win!

Winning the competition gave us a real boost in confidence, as well as a flavour of the real world.”

The girls were doubly delighted when they realised their design was chosen in preference to those of industry professionals

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Both Emily and Alice have internships lined up to give them a taste of the industry, before deciding which career path to follow in the future.

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Author’s visit is ‘Write on’ Author James Campbell had pupils at both Schools in stitches when he visited to inspire them as part of World Book Day. Children in the Prep School came to School dressed as their favourite book characters, (now an annual and muchanticipated event in the School calendar), but it was writer, TV presenter and children’s comedian Mr Campbell who stole the show this year.

He encouraged everyone to pick up the pen and get writing those stories we all have within us. It was lovely to hear the laughter echoing around the Library, confirming that the pupils were thoroughly enjoying the day.”

James gave some of his top tips on how to write humorous fiction. He regaled the children with funny stories and observational humour, perfectly demonstrating how it is usually better to write about familiar people and places and personal experiences - even if it may be a little exaggerated!

Senior School Librarian, Mrs Christine Carter said, “James entertained the pupils expertly, but also imparted wise words about creative writing techniques and how it is important not to be lazy.

Excellence as Standard The School’s recent ISI inspection has given all at the Senior and Preparatory Schools a lot to be proud of. Not only has the Prep School been rated ‘excellent’ in all eight categories, but Sutton Valence gained ‘excellent’ in seven categories and ‘good’ in the remaining two.

Nursery, along with Reception was particularly praised by the Inspectors for meeting the children’s needs exceptionally well, but throughout the School pupils’

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achievements were judged to be excellent, ‘attaining high standards and gaining a secure grounding in literacy and numeracy’.

Said Head, Malcolm Gough, “This is a terrific endorsement of everything that goes on here. It’s a hugely positive outcome, but we are already looking for further ways to improve. There will be no resting on laurels.”

At Sutton Valence, the Inspectors recognised that the School provides an

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excellent education and that the pupils’ personal development is strong. They are ‘supported in an inclusive community by excellent pastoral care and, for those that board, an excellent boarding education that encourages the development of key personal skills and confidence’.

It was noted that GCSE results have improved over the past four years and that at A Level, results have been similar to those of grammar schools in recent years.

“What pleases me most”, said Bruce Grindlay, Headmaster, “is that the inspectors have recognised the work we have done in recent years to improve teaching and learning, raise expectations and achievement and in building an inclusive community, with a focus on the needs of the individual pupil.

In particular, with more of the top inspection grades than other similar, broad-ability schools, we were deemed to have ‘made excellent progress since the last inspection (2009)’.”

Entente cordiale as ‘Twins’ go to School Children from Maidstone’s twin town of Beauvais had the chance to come face to face with their pen pals when the town’s twinning committee arranged a visit to the Preparatory School.

All 34 children in Year 6 of the Prep School

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correspond with their French counterparts as part of their lessons and to improve their written language skills.

So when a twinning visit was on the cards, committee members ensured the youngsters had the chance to take part, spending a day

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with their English pen pals at the School, where they had lunch and a cream tea, as well as a taste of a music lesson.

The twinning committee in Beauvais subsidised the visit for the boys and girls, who were accompanied by five members of the French committee.

different from ours – even though our countries are so close.”

Children in Year 5, who have just begun writing to their new pen pals, will be visiting Beauvais in May this year and meeting up with their own cross-channel friends for the first time.

Prior to visiting Sutton Valence, they went to the Town Hall where they were introduced to the Mayor, Cllr Clive English and the group also enjoyed a trip to Leeds Castle.

Head of French, Miss Chloe Buttle said, “Our children visited the French school in May last year, when they all met for the first time. This was the next stage of the ongoing relationship with the school in Beauvais.

Corresponding by letter is not so popular now, but it is an excellent way for the children to practise their written language skills, as well as learning a little about the French way of life and culture, which is quite

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Compiled and edited by Helen Knott, Development Manager

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